‘Change in individual linked to social change’

Dimapur, Oct. 14 (EMN): The transformation of an individual will encourage other people to explore strategies to build peace. Unless people change besides changing their mindset and perspective rather than being selfish and looking to own interest only, there is always going to be conflict, participants at a workshop about peace building in Peren were told. A group called the Peren Town People’s Forum for Peace conducted its monthly “consultative workshop,” on October 10 in the Peren Town Women Welfare group's conference hall, in Peren. The event was initiated by the Peace Channel of Dimapur, updates stated. The organisation issued a press release to the media on Monday informing about the programme. The program began with an invocation by pastor Haiku Nza of Peren Town Baptist Church. Project coordinator for Peace Channel Vitono Haralu was the spoke person for the event, and spoke on the topic of ‘conflict, peace and mental health, the press release stated. The organisers stated that the program commenced with an ‘ice breaker’ session with the participants to “practically experience” the usage and importance of presence of mind and also to understand the benefit of active listening and responding appropriately. The resource person spoke to the participants about “the meaning of mental health” and the influences it has on an individual’s psychological and emotional wellbeing and its impact on the society. “It is very visible in our behaviour and how we think, feel and respond to situations. She also asked the participants to address some of the positive and negative impacts on their town that indicates the mental state of mind of the citizens,” the press release stated. To this, the participants are stated to have responded that the people of Peren are a “simple, loving people and treat one another with equality as positive and negative visibility as insecurities, being conservative and narrow mindedness,” the organisers stated. Further, the participants at the event felt the need for peace to “balance the imbalance” and addresses social issues in the community by educating the people through seminars to discuss various social issues. This strategy will help people to be aware of what is happening around them, the updates stated. Further, Haralu emphasised on the importance of communication. Likewise, the press release explained, she talked about how well people communicate with each other to avoid conflict and to bring developmental alternatives to sustain peace and harmony in the society according to the need of the people. The resource person queried the participants about who would empower women to exercise their rights, who would educate the men that peace is a collective effort of men, women and youth and children, the updates stated. ‘How do we empower and be more responsible as citizens in the community. Unless people evolve with time and change mind-sets and perspectives over our own self-interest, there is always going to be conflict,’ the resource person said. The Peace Channel member mentioned further that women should be encouraged to come out from their comfort zone and be given opportunities to be involved in the decision making process “for better results and exercise their rights.” “Individual transformation of the members will encourage others to explore strategies for peace building and development by working together where peace will rein in the heart and mind of the people,” the organisers said. Peren town’s People’s Forum for Peace now has a permanent member for the tenure 2019 to 2020. The press release mentioned that a total of 30 participants will be trained and certified by Peace Channel after a yearlong training on various capacity building workshops. Tingbapeung, president of Peren Town Chairman Union was also mentioned in the press release as having said that the need for proper orientation and training programmes with various leaders of Peren will enable them to take better decisions for lasting solutions on matters that involve the community and its people.